Chasing Suspect Three (17 page)

“Yes, go ahead. It’s fun to hear you so
happy.”

“I laid the whole deal on him. He capitulated
and offered me second-degree. It floored me. I never dreamed he’d
go for it.”

“He knew the judge would see it your way.
That’s great, Sandy. You have the death penalty and life
imprisonment off the table. Nice going.”

“Wait, there’s more. I told him okay, I’ll
take second degree, but I want my client released on bond pending
trial.”

“Get out! He agreed?”

“Sometimes my audacity surprises even me.
Fifty thousand bond and she’s released. Now I can run around with
her and get this defense nailed down. We can meet with Richie. She
can go to the bank, or to friends, or whatever she has to do to
come up with my fee. Now you get busy and dig up some more
exculpatory evidence.”

“You’re going to be a great criminal defense
lawyer. I’m not saying that just because you’re my favorite...one
of my favorite people. See you.”

She tried to picture Margo out of jail,
running around free, getting into trouble. She liked it better when
she knew where Margo was at all times. She did want to be a good
criminal defense lawyer, but not if it meant getting guilty clients
off. Perhaps it wasn’t up to her to decide. Maybe she should just
do her best and let the criminal justice system decide who’s
guilty. No, that was a cop-out. She wasn’t going to let other
people resolve her own ethical dilemma of defending guilty clients.
She would use no tricks to find Margo innocent. If she was the one
who shot John, there had to be a penalty.

She now understood how naïve she had been,
when she entered the field of law, all the people she’d fight for
would be innocent and unjustly accused. She hadn’t considered
defending clients who lied and insisted on their innocence, while
she was certain of their guilt.

She put in a call for Margo at the jail and
was at her desk preparing the motion for the bond hearing, when
Martin arrived back at the office. He congratulated her again, and
then started explaining, “You asked me to check out the witnesses
over at the victim’s condo—their story doesn’t match the police
version. For starters, only one person heard a shot, and the man
didn’t report it, because it sounded more like a loud pop.”

“Which, by the way, is how a real gun
sounds.”

“Yes, and he has no idea about the time. He
was up until midnight. A neighbor told me she had just turned off
her favorite TV show at ten that night and was locking up when she
heard a car start up and saw Margo’s car leaving. She knew the car,
because she recognized Margo, but couldn’t swear who was driving.
Neither witness called 911.”

“So, who did call the police? How was the
body discovered?”

“As you know, the victim’s condo is on the
second floor. He was shot while taking a shower, and the water kept
running. Bloody water dripped into the unit directly below soaking
the ceiling. But that took all night to happen. The next morning,
the first floor owner went upstairs to complain, no answer. He and
a maintenance man discovered the body.”

“Sounds logical, the shooter left without
turning off the shower. Wait a minute. If the man doesn’t remember
what time he heard the shot, it could have been
after
the
witness saw Margo’s car leaving. That might be part of our
defense—the victim was still alive when she drove away.”

“That’s possible. I found nothing that would
disprove that theory.”

Margo called back from the jail, and Sandy
gave her the wonderful news. Margo was both excited to hear she was
getting out and confused about the bail bond. “The hearing isn’t
until tomorrow morning, but ASA Shapiro has already agreed to bail
at fifty thousand dollars. We’ll find you a bail bondsman. You’ll
need to put up ten-percent—five thousand.”

“You going to lend me the five?” Margo wanted
to know.

“You pay me the fifty you already owe me, and
I’ll lend you five.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s a joke...I’m still waiting to be paid,
remember?”

“I paid you ten thousand cash!”

“We’ve been over this. I’m not going to
appear shady by accepting drug money. The ten thousand cash you had
delivered is in my office safe. When you get out, we’re going to
take that cash straight to your bank where you are buying me a ten
thousand dollar bank check. You hand the teller cash. I get a
check. You told me the cash was legitimate and that’s fine with me.
In any case, I want a check, so my hands are clean.”

“Seems like just a technicality to me.”

“It is a technicality. That’s exactly why I’m
doing it.”

“I need another five thousand to get out of
jail? Where am I supposed to get that?”

“There are signs advertising bondsmen all
over the jail. Pick one. He’ll tell you what to do. He’ll take the
title to your car. Or put it on your credit card. He’ll figure it
out. You’ll be out in a day or so. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll get
your car out of the police pound. I’ll be in touch.” Oh my, she
thought as she hung up. Isn’t the world a beautiful place?

T
he following
morning, Sandy was bursting with enthusiasm and pacing outside the
courtroom far ahead of time for the scheduled hearing. At last, in
court before the judge, she moved that the charge against her
client be reduced to second-degree, because of the lack of
prima
facie
premeditation. Shapiro said the state had no objection.
She then requested release of the accused on fifty-thousand dollars
bail pending trial. The judge looked at ASA Shapiro, who again
nodded the state had no objection. The judge rapped his gavel. “So
ordered.”

Twenty-four hours later, they released Margo
Larena from the county jail. Sandy was at her side as personal
items were returned—except for her cell phone, which the crime lab
was still holding.

As they walked out to the parking lot, Sandy
asked, “How did you arrange the five thousand for bail?”

“Sonny, the bail guy, came to the jail. He
put it on my credit card.”

“I told you it was easy. Here take this. It's
a disposable cell phone. You have sixty prepaid minutes on there.
Keep it on. I need to keep in touch. You have your keys back. Now
we’ll get your car released. Then we’ll go my office, get the cash,
and go to your bank for my check. Which bank do you use?”

“I can’t go to the bank looking like this.
Why don’t we do it tomorrow?”

“No, we are definitely doing it today. I’ve
waited too long for my money as it is.” She didn’t add that her car
payment was due.

“C’mon, I just got out of a jumpsuit.” She
looked at Sandy pleading.

She did look scruffy. “Okay, I’ll follow you
over to your apartment. You can freshen up. I’ll wait for you. Then
we’re off to the bank.”

Margo threw her arms open and looked up at
the sky. “I’m never going back into that place again.” Pointing
back at the jail. “I don’t care what happens. I’m not going
back.”

“That’s my hope for you also, but you’re
still under arrest for murder. I’m going to need a great deal of
help from you to keep you from going back.” She noticed Margo
seemed to be ignoring her and listening to some bird. “Hello!
There’s a lot for us to talk about. I need you and Richie to come
over to my office tomorrow. I don’t care if he’s an illegal. I’m
working for you not immigration. Just find him. Also, I’d like to
go over to the condo with you and look around.”

They settled into the front seat of the
Miata.

“Don’t slam the door!”

Margo said, “Wow, what a cute little car. I’m
giving you the fifty thousand, so you can pay for this baby.
Right?”

“I’ve done pretty well for you. You’re
sitting under a clear blue sky listening to birds chirping with no
bars around you.” The moment would have been a suitable time for
Margo to offer some thanks to Sandy for getting her released, but
it didn’t happen.

“Do I have to pay anything to get my car
back?”

“No, I’ve already phoned. The crime unit has
finished going over it.”

“I hope they didn’t strip anything. Why do
you want to go to John’s condo?”

“It’s the crime scene. I’ll be talking about
it during your trial.” While driving to the police pound, she
explained about the sheriff’s deputy shooting the unidentified
intruder who had shot at her.

It was all news to Margo. “My condo was
damaged? Someone is going to pay me for that. I intend to move in
there as soon as I can.”

Without a doubt, the condo was going to
Claudia. Sandy didn’t want to get into that just yet.

She drove up to the vehicle pound gate and
waited while Margo went in and signed for her car. Margo pulled
through the gate and stopped beside Sandy with the window down.

“You don’t have to follow me, Sandy. Go on to
your office. I’ll be over there soon.”

“You know the banks are going to close soon,
and we can’t pass ten grand through the drive-up. I’d rather follow
you home and wait.”

“Okay, but I’m going to take a shower and
all. I’ll be awhile.”

“You don’t’ have much time. You’ll need to
hurry. Let’s go.” She wanted that money in her hand before
something else happened.

“Can I be honest with you? To tell the truth,
I phoned Richie this morning and told him I was getting out. He’s
waiting for me at my apartment. And you know Richie.”

“I don’t, but I can guess.”

“He’s not going to want to hurry.”

Sandy didn’t answer. She thought about how
nice people suddenly murder someone out of frustration. She doubted
any jury would convict her of strangling Margo.

Margo smiled. “You’re not going to be mad at
me are you?”

Sandy put her face down in her hands.

And Margo continued, “There is something
else.”

Sandy’s started shaking her head very slowly,
her eyes tightly closed.

“I don’t think I want to walk into my bank
with ten thousand cash.”

“Margo, you’re pushing all my buttons. I want
you at my office in the morning at nine on the dot. If you don’t
show, I’m going in front of the judge and vacate my motion for your
release. I’ll inform the court that I’m resigning as your attorney.
By noon, you’ll be on your own. You’ll be the subject of an arrest
warrant placing you back behind bars.”

“You don’t have to do all that.”

“I’ve no choice. You’ve forced me.”

“No, I mean you don’t have to do that. I
think I can get the ten thousand together. I’ll bring you a check
in the morning. I promise.”

“Would you be surprised to learn I don’t
believe a word of what you just said? You heard me, Margo. My
patience is gone.” She looked into the woman's eyes uncertain if
anyone in there was in control.

Driving back to her office, she wondered if
she’d actually go through with her threat to drop Margo. Of course,
she would. Then again, of course she wouldn’t. The smart thing
wouldn’t be to walk away with nothing. The smart thing would be to
scrounge around with Margo and scrape up every dime she has
anywhere. Maybe she can write a check on her credit card to get a
cash advance, sell jewelry, or her car. Even getting a couple
thousand would be good and help pay for some of the time and
expense she had incurred so far. Then, if the situation hadn’t
changed, she’d drop Margo. Because if Margo can’t come up with the
first ten thousand, she’d never be able to pay off the remaining
forty.

The chance Margo would show up in the morning
with a check for ten thousand dollars was somewhere between zero
and zilch. She was through worrying about it for that day.

Yet, in spite of the money thing, it had been
a fantastic day. She had stood before the judge and successfully
talked her client out of jail. One of those exciting days, she
normally would share with Chip. Why not? This nonsense had been
going on too long. She pulled her car to the curb and took out her
phone.

This was ridiculous. Her mind had processed
too many episodes of Chip getting it on with that woman. She had to
get this out of her head. Also, she had neglected her own needs.
She was beyond ready. And she couldn’t see herself having sex with
any man other than Chip. More than enough to pick up her phone. Any
excuse to see Chip would do. She touched Speed Dial. While waiting
for him to answer, she thought,
were I with Thee wild nights
would be our luxury
.

“Yeah, it’s me,” she said. “Hey, there’s a
foreign film festival at the Superior tonight. Why don’t we
go.”

“You mean Fellini and Bergman and those guys?
What a coincidence, I’ve been thinking about them all day. May I
hold your hand?”

****

Once inside of the theatre, they walked down
one of the wide thickly carpeted halls. The number of their screen
was at the far end. She started to lead the way from the hallway
into the darkened theatre when he took her arm and held her back
just inside the door. There in the dark, he pulled her to him and
softly kissed her.

She moved in closer.

They heard the opening fanfare of the
previews. He started to break, but she held the kiss for an
additional tantalizing minute. Then whispered, “Do you know what’s
happening to my body right now?”

“It's so great to be close to you again,
sweetheart. I feel I’ve just crossed a long hot desert and you are
a refreshing drink of water.”

“You didn’t have to stay thirsty. There are
refreshment stands all along in every block. Some have large flashy
signs sticking out front. Most offer free samples. Wouldn’t a
little sip now and then have kept you going?”

“I’ve visited some of them in the past. They
didn’t satisfy my thirst. Do you want me to tell you about my
thirst?”

“I can find out for myself.” She pushed him
back against the wall. She took a quick glance around. They were
alone in the darkness of the entryway. She moved her hand down and
pressed against him. “Geez, wouldn’t that just make my day.”